Carrier-despatch power-control system.



C. P. HIDDEN.

GARR(ER DESPATCH POWER CONTROL SYSTEM.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1914.

Patented Deal/1917;

3 SHEETS-SHEET C. P. HIDDEN.

CARRIER DESPATCH POWER CONTROL SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. I914.

JLMR RWW Patented Dec. 4,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 6 /9 Z022)? eases, 473 4 C. P. HIDDEN.

CARRIER DESPATCH POWER CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1914. I

Patented Dec. 4,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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CHARLES P. HIDDEN, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSONCOMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CARRIER-DESPATCH POWER-CONTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. I, IQI'I.

Application filed. May 6, 1914. Serial No. 836,650.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. HIDDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCarrier-Despatch Power-Control Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a power control system for carrier despatchapparatus and is particularly well adapted to pneumatic despatch tubesystems.

It is the object of the present invention, to provide a system in whichno dependence need be placed on any time-off mechanism, but rather onein which as soon as a carrier is introduced into a line, the expenditureof power commences, while the instant that the carrier emerges from saidline or is delivered at a determined station, the expenditure of powerceases automatically, provided that there is no succeeding carrier inthe line, traveling in either direction. If there be such succeedingcarriers, then the instant that the last carrier emerges or is deliveredat the station for which it is destined, the expenditure of powerceases.

To this end I have invented certain novel pieces of apparatus, which areparticularly well adapted to accomplish the purpose in question whenembodied in a system of this description. I am aware, however thatvarious changes and modifications may be made in my improved systemwithout departing from the spirit of my invention and also that the saidpieces of apparatus are adapted to various other uses. I hence desire tobe limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing which form a part hereof and in which likereference characters designate like parts, I have exemplified myinvention as applied to a pneumatic despatch tube system.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of a system of thecharacter in question, in which the flow of air through pneumatictransmission tubes is controlled by valves which in turn are controlledby the apparatus hereinafter particularly described.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a pneumatic despatch system, in which themotor and blower are directly controlled by my said apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a contact device which is disposed atdespatching points in the above system.

Fig. 4 is a detail section of certain contact devices which may bedisposed adjacent the respective receiving stations in the abovesystems.

1 Fig. 5 is a vertical detail section of a preferred circuit making andbreaking device which controls respectively the valves and the motor inthe above systems; the section being taken on line V-V of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line VIVI of Fig. 5. I

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of one of the contact disks in themechanism shown in Figs. 5, 6 and Referring first to Fig. 1, herein thedespatch tubes leading from stations A, B and C have respectively beendesignated 1 1 and 1. These tubes extend respectively to stations D, Eand F, and the return tubes from these latter stations have beendesignated 2 2 and 2 The delivery terminals 3 at stations D, E and F areof a well known type; carriers emerging therefrom in the direction ofthe arrows through suitable clapper valves 4; the exemplified despatchsystem being of the vacuum type.

When one of the valves hereinafter referred to is opened, air enters atthe open end of the corresponding one of the tubes 1 1', etc., andpropels a carrier which may have been inserted in said open end upwardlyto the corresponding terminal 3 and out through it valve 4; the currentof air normally returning toward the lower station from thecorresponding terminal 3 through the tube 2 2 or 2 being led offlaterally from the line of travel of the carrier through a suitableconduit 5, and thence through an exhaust tube 6 past a valve 7 (abovereferred to) and into the drum 8, or the like, from whence it flowsthrough the blower 9 in the usual manner; this blower convenientlyexhausting to the atmosphere at 10 and being driven by an electric motor11. At substantially the entrance toeach of the tubes 1*, 1 and 1, thereis a contact box 12, the details of which are shown in Fig. 3. Herein atrip or lever 13 extends into the path of carriers being despatched, andis pivoted at 14 so that it may as the case may be; and

correspondingly be thrust upwardly and aside by each carrier as it isinserted into the transmission tube. Apair of resilient contact stripsand 16 are disposed adjacent the hub of this lever; strip 15 having. aprojection near its free end which is normally seated in a depression inthe lever hub, but which when lever 13 is rotated counter-clockwise, asviewed in Fig. 3, by a passing carrier, is cammed out of said depressionso that contact 15' is forced into engagement with the contact '16;thereby closing an electric circuit now to be described.

Current for this circuit may be conveniently supplied by a battery 17 orany other suitable and preferably low voltage source of current. Whenengagement is effected in the manner above described between contacts'15 and 16, current may flow from this battery throughwire 18 to a wire19, 19 or 19*, according to which of the tubes lead ing from the severallower stations, is being used. This current passes from wire 19,foreXample, through contacts 15 and 16, at station A, and a wire 20 toone of the circuit making and breaking devices, details of which havebeen shown in Figs. 5, 6,7 and 81 For convenience this particular devicehas been broadly designated 21 and wire 20 leads thereinto through, forexample, the base plate 22 thereof up to a magnet 23, which controls oneof the contact disks hereinafter referred to; current passing throughthis magnet emerges therefrom through a wire 24 to a wire 25, and thelatter extends to a lead 26 which runs back to the battery. I

The energization of magnet 23 attracts its armature 27 which is mountedupon lever 28 pivoted at 29 in the upper extremity of a bracket 30. Thefree end of the lever 28 has a slotted connection 31 with an escapementlike member 32 and the latter is pivoted upon a shaft 33 in a frame 34.

Below the shaft 33 in this frame is a second shaft 35 upon which areloosely mounted two wheels respectively designated 36 and 36. Each ofthese wheels is toothed around the periphery thereof as at 37, in Figs.5, 6 and 7; and the escapement 32, above referred to, engages the teeth37 of wheel 36, while a similar escapement 32 is adapted to actuate thewheel 36 through its engagement with the teeth 37 of said wheel. Theescapements 32 and 32 may be spaced apart by a sleeve 38 and the wheels36 are preferably provided with hubs which bear against each other andproperly space these elements apart.

Attached, as by means of rivets, to the wheels 36 and 36 are disks offiber or other suitable insulating material, respectively designated 39.and 39, and each of these insulating disks. carries a cup-like contactmember the bottom OfWhlCll bears against the inner side of these disks,while the flanges of said cup-like elements are disposed around theperipheries of the disks.

These cups have been respectively designated 40 and 40, and eachpreferably having a hole 41 in the center thereof through which the hubof the corresponding wheel 3636 may project. The member 40 is cut awayas at 42, so that, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the flange thereof issubstantially unimpaired, but a recessis provided in the lateral facethereof through which the insulating material of the disk 39 is exposed.

The member 40' instead of being cut away as is the cup 40, carries aspring contact 43 which may be riveted thereto at 44 and which is soshaped that its free end projects resiliently out toward the disk 30 andnormally extends into the aperture 42 and contacts with the surface ofthis said disk exposed at this point.

Mounted upon the base 22 are two resilient contact strips designated 45and 45, which respectively bear against the flanges of the conductivemembers 40-40. Wires 4-6 and 47 extend from the strips 4545'respectively to positive and negative leads 48 and 49; and since in Fig.1 there are 3 valves 7, for convenience and as there are several sets ofthese wires 46-47, they have been respectively designated 46, 46 47,47", etc.

A solenoid 50- is introduced into the line or wire 47 whilecorrespondingly a solenoid 50 is connected in the wire 47", etc; so thatwhen contact is established between the strip 43 and the cup 40 of thedevice designated 21, current will ilow through the positive lead 48through wire 46, strip 45, cup 40, spring contact 43, cup 40, strip 45,wire 47 and solenoid 50 to the negative lead 49.

Vhenever a carrier is inserted into the open end of the tube 1, thiscircuit is completed because of the energization. of magnet 23 in themanner above described, the

movement of whose armature causes the escapement-like member 32 torotate clockwise as viewed in Fi 5 so that the wheel 36 is advanced inthe direction of the arrow indicated thereupon, one step, and no morethan one step for any single actuation of the armature 27. The whole ofthis step is not effected solely by the descent of the armature,sincethe release of the armature upon the deenergization of magnet 23per mits of a counter-clockwise rotation of member 32 by a spring 51,and this movement of the element 32 completes the step.

The wheel 36 is, however, advanced sufiiciently by the downward movementof armature 27' to efiect an engagement between the contact strip 43 andthe cup 40, so that immediately after a carrier has been thus insertedinto the tube for despatch from station A, the valve 7 corresponding tosuch station will be opened by its solenoid and air will flow upwardlythrough tube 1 and downwardly through the tube 2 and exhaust pipe 6 tothe drum 8. The carrier will be propelled by this flow of air towardstation D, and just before it enters the terminal 3, said carrier willpass through a casing 52 which constitutes a portion of said tube 1.

Within this casing are preferably 3 contact actuating leversrespectively designated 53, 5 1 and 55. Levers 53 and 541 have arelatively small movement and are adapted to be displaced laterally orcounter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, by the felt heads of a carrier.A. carrier 56 has been shown in full lines in the tube 1, in Fig. 1, andcomprises the usual body of brass tubing or the like into which messagesor other articles may be placed, and which body has at each extremitythereof a felt head which projects out beyond this body, or therearound,a short distance. When the front head of the carrier impinges against,for example, the lever 53; this lever is swung around and thereby camsinto engagement contacts 57 and 58, in similar fashion to the manner inwhich contacts 15 and 16 are engaged by the action of the lever 13 abovedescribed.

As soon as this head of the carrier has passed the point of lever 53,the latter is snapped back into its normal position by its spring 59;there being sufficient clearance between the body of the carrier and thetube to permit of this action.

Levers 53 and 5 1 have their carrier head engaging points spaced apart adistance substantially equal to the distance between the felt heads ofthe carrier plus the thickness of one head, so that each carrier isadapted to operatively displace levers 53 and 5 1 simultaneously forjust one instant as it passes said levers. The lever 55 is adapted forsomewhat greater movement than levers 53 and 54:111 that its pointnormally moves suiiiciently far into the tube to insure its beingdisplaced not only by the felt heads of the carrier but also by the bodythereof. When a carrier impinges against lever 53 it thereby cams intoengagement contacts 60 and 61 which are controlled by this lever.

The lever 54. controls contacts 62 and 63 in similar fashion, and allthree sets of these contacts are in series; a wire 64- connectingcontact 57 with contact 60 and a wire 65 connecting contact 61 withcontact 63. From contact 58 extends a wire 66 and a wire 67 similarlyextends from contact 62.

By reason of the provision of these three sets of contacts every carrierwhich passes through the casing 52 will invariably complete a circuitwhich includes the wires 66 and 67 just at the instant that this carrieroccupies the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The reason that three sets of contacts are provided instead of one ortwo sets is this: If one set of contacts were used, controlled by lever55, for example, then if two carriers were about to emerge from tube 1the second of these carriers being almost in contact or quite inengagement withthe first, then lever 55 would be displaced to effectcontact between members 60 and 61 but once for these two carriers,whereas it is highly desirable in operating a system such as that hereindescribed to have each carrier individually close the circuit throughwire 66 once.

If, on the other hand, a single operating lever such as that designated53 were to be provided, then such lever would be actuated twice forevery single carrier which passed it and the circuit through wire 66would hence be completed twice for such a carrier, owing to thesuccessive engagements of the heads of this carrier with said lever. Ifsome provision be made for spacing apart the adjoining heads of closelysucceeding carriers, it is feasible to use a single contact in a casing52, but owing to the fact that most of the carriers in use to-day haveflattened heads which are adapted to abut against each other closely, itis obvious that if two such closely succeeding carriers should move pastthe contact lever 53, then the first head would energize wire 66 once,andthe two adjoining heads of the two carriers would actuate lever 53but once, thereby reenergizing wire 66 a second time, while the rearhead of the second carrier would again energize wire 66 ;making threetimes in all; whereas to maintain proper actuation of the system when inuse, a single lever such as that designated 53, would have to beactuated by said two carriers so as to energize wire 66 four times.

Evidently if two levers, each of which are adapted to make a contactevery time a carrier head passes each one of them, be disposed as shownin Fig. 4, then the wire 66 will be energized once and once only, foreach carrier which passes through the casing 52, except in the one casewhen two carriers, one following the other, happen to be so spaced apartin the casing while traveling therethrough that the rear head of theforemost carrier presses against lever 54:, while the first head of therear carrier presses against lever 53. It is for just this case that thethird contact 55 is provided, since at such time lever 53 would occupyits innermost position; there being no body of the carrier in contacttherewith to hold it in its contact making position. Therefore if twocarriers should be so disposed, while they would complete the circuit atcontacts 57 and 58, 62 and 63 the said circuit would still be brokenbetween contacts 60 and 61. From the foregoing it is evident that threesets of contacts with actuating parts such as have, been described, willunfailingly cause the energization of the circuit including wire 66,once and once only for each carrier which passes through the easing 52.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be observed that wire 66 is connectedto a lead 68 which extends to a wire 18 which runs from the battery,while the wire 67 connects contact 62 with a magnet 23, disposedalongside of the magnet 23, above referred to, and since there are aplurality of stations D, E and F, the wire 67 which leads from station Dhas been designated 67 and the corresponding wires for the otherstations 67 and 67.

The magnet 23" controls an actuating mechanism for the wheel 86 which issubstantially identical with that already discussed in connection withwheel 36, so that it may suffice here to say that every time a magnet 23is thus energized by the passage of an emerging. carrier through thecasing .52 at a given station, the disk 10, which carries a contactspring 45% and which corresponds to such station, is advanced one stepin the same direction that the corresponding disk 40 is advanced by thepreviously described mechanism.

It follows from this that every time a carrier is inserted at station A,for example, for despatch to station D, the disk L0 in the apparatus 21,will be cumulatively advanced substantially one step; causing thesolenoid 5 0 to be energized and thus opening the preferably balancedvalve 7, to establish a carrier propelling current of air to transmitsaid carrier to station D.

VVhen this carrier is about ready to discharge at station D, its passagethrough the casing 52 at this station advances the disk to one step, soas to cause the spring 43 to tend to catch up with the opening or recess42 in the cup 40. If no other carrier has been inserted for dcspatchfrom station A to station D, before this first despatched carrier hasbeen passed through casing 52, then the free end of strip will again bebrought into coincidence with the recess 42; breaking the circuitthrough wire t7 and permitting the core of solenoid 50 by its weight, orin any other suitable manner, to close the valve 7 and stop the furtherexpenditure of power through this line. If, however, a second carrierhas been inserted into the tube 1 before the first carrier thus emergestherefrom, such second carrier will have caused the disk 4L0 to beadvanced a second step, so that even when the first carrier thus causesthe disk 40 to move around a single step, still contact 43 will be inengagement with cup 40 and valve 7 will be maintained open. Practicallythe instant, however, that this second carrier also emerges at stationD, valve 7 will be closer. Thus there is no dependence upon any timeinterval; but a mere insertion of a carrier into the system starts theexpenditure of power to transmit said carrier, and it will make nodifference whether this carrier be followed by a, second, third, fourthor fifth carrier in rapid succession and before the en'iergence of thefirst, in so far as the operation of the system is concerned. Assuredly,the emergence of the last of these carriers from the lines will cause ashutting down of the power.

For transmitting carriers from station D to station A, for example, asecond power control device 21 is provided, and the downward passage ofa carrier being desputched through the contact box 12 at station D willin corresponding fashion, through the instrumentality or the mechanism21, elfect the opening of the valve 7 which corresponds to stations Aand D.

Each of the devices 21 and 21 act independently of each other andobviously as long as a single carrier is in course of transit in eitherdirection, between stations A and D, the said valve will be maintainedopen; while at almost the instant that the last carrier emerges from thetubes 1 and 2, considered collectively, said valve will close.

Referring now more particularly to the construction shown in Fig. 2,herein in place of controlling valves, or the like, whereby to controlthe expenditure of power, the motor itself is directly controlled bypower control mechanisms 21, which may be identical with those used inthe previous system. The air current in the present case, when the motoris in operation, flows through the tube 1 from the open end thereof atstation G, in the direction of the arrow indicated on this tube tostation H and from thence back through the terminal and tube 2 to theolfset conduit 5, exhaust tube or pipe (3, drum 8 and blower 9 to theatmosphere at 10. Contact boxes 12 may be provided adjacent stations Gand H, so that the instant that a carrier is inserted for dcspatch ateither of these points, one or the other of the corresponding controlmechanisms 21 or 21 will have the element 40 thereof advanced one step.Correspondingly the passage of a carrier through the casing 52 at eitherstation G or station H will effect the single step displacement of thecontact cup d0 in the corresponding power control device, so that in sofar as the operation of this system to this point is concerned it issubstantially identical to that already discussed.

In the present case the circuit making and breaking parts 4l:OlO are incircuit with the motor 11 so that the moment that contact is madebetween spring 4-3 and the cup 40 of either of the devices 21 or 21current will flow from the positive main 48, through the motor andthence through lead 47 and one or the other of its branches 4:7 or 4L7,to the contact l5, cup 40, spring 43, cup 40, strip 4.5 and wire 46 or46 as the case may be, to the negative lead 49.

As long, therefore, as one or the other of the contacts 43 isoperatively disposed with respect to its corresponding contact cup 40the motor will continue in operation, and by reason of the constructionshown, almost immediately after the emergence of the last carrier.through either of the tubes 1 or 2 said motor will be shut down, or theex penditure of power will be otherwise conserved.

For the purpose of illustrating how a plurality of despatching pointsmay be located along a transmission tube, I have somewhatdiagrammatically indicated, below the station H, a despatching terminalJ, provided with the usual valve 69 below which is disposed one of the.contact boxes 12 with Wires 19 and 20 respectively leading into wire 19and 20 which extend to contacts at the station E, so that the box 12 atstation J is in parallel with box 12 at station I-I.

When therefore, a carrier is despatched at either station H or station Jthe contact cup 40 of the power control device 21 will be advanced onestep, and this joint control from two points of this device will notthrow out of step contact parts thereof, since carriers inserted at bothII and J emerge at station G, where the element 40 of this same device,is controlled by the triple contacts in casing 52 of this latterstation.

I have not attempted to apply designating characters to all of thewires, since owing to the similarity of the several circuits, the courseof current therethrough will at once be apparent in view of the abovedisclosure. Suffice it to say, however, that in general a scheme ofnomenclature has been followed in which like numerals designate likewires or parts, and where such numerals have a supplementary letter, thewires so designated correspond to a station having a like letter. Ingeneral each despatching point is provided with a contact making box 12from which electrical connections extend to a power control circuitmaking and breaking device which corresponds to such station, so as toeflect an energization of the magnet 23 of such device for each carrierdespatched from a station; while at each point from which a carrier mayemerge from the system, or substantially adjacent said point, there is acontact box or casing 52 from whence electrical connections extend tothe magnet 23 of the power control device corresponding to the givenline.

' If a plurality of despatching points he located along a singletransmission line, there may occur at comparatively rare times, asimultaneous despatch of carriers from two make contact merelymomentarily as it passes the trip or lever 13 below such despatchingpoints, in order that the time during which the corresponding contacts15 and 16 are held in engagement may be reduced to a minimum. Thisgreatly reduces the chance of so causing this particular arrangement ofthe system to operate in an abnormal manner.

Even, however, if the elements 4040 of a given power control deviceshould get out of step, the only harm which can result will be that thepower will continue to be expended until it is observed by some one thatthe system is not operating properly, and in any case no carrier will beleft in the system.

In certain of the appended claims I have referred to the elements i040as rotary parts, in contradistinction to reciprocatory or to and fromoving parts; since a very great advantage is obtained when saidelements are mounted for step-by-step movement continuously ahead, asshown ;in that the neutral position of these parts with respect to eachother becomes cyclic in character and there is hence no necessity for aretrograde step or movement of one or the other, or both, of said partsat a time.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a carrierdespatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations, meansto propel carriers along said way step-by-step acting means, controlledfrom one of said stations from which carriers are despatched, forrendering said propelling means operative to propel a carrier from saidstation toward another one of the same, said step-by-step acting meansbeing advanced a step for each carrier despatched, means to thus controlsaid step-by-step acting means, and co-acting means to limit theoperation of said propelling means substantiallyas soon as said way isclear of all despatched carriers and normally only when said way is thusclear, said co-acting means having an actuating part along the path ofcarriers in course of transit near their point of delivery and said partbeing separately actuated by each carrier as it passes the sameirrespective of the proximity of such carrier to any carrier in advancethereof.

2. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality ofstations, meansto propel carriers along said way, rotarily mountedstepby-step acting means,

controlled from one of said stations from separately actuated by eachcarrier as it passes the same irrespective of the proximity of suchcarrier to any carrier in advance thereof. 7 o

3; In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality ofstations power means to propel carriers along safe way, step-by-stepacting means for rendering said power means operative to propelcarriers, controlling means for a part of said step-by-step actingmeans, disposed adjacent one of said stations, controlling means foranother part of said stepby-step acting means, disposed at a pointrelatively remote from said first mentioned controlling means, one atleast of said controlling means being actuated by each carrier passlngthereby, as said carrier approaches the point at which it ultimatelycomes to rest, said stepby-step acting means having rotary parts thereofadapted to normally occupy a neutral position with respect to each otherand one of said controlling means acting to change this normalrelationship of said parts while the other of said controlling meansacts to restore saidrelationship.

l. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality ofstations, power means to propel carriers along said way, a plurality ofelements which normally occupy a determined relationship with respect toeach other, said elements co-acting' to control the expenditure of powerby said power means, substantially independent controlling meansfor'each of said elements, one of said controlling means normallyaeting, each time it is rendered operative, to displace one of saidelements one step for each carrier despatched and to thereby destroysaid normal relationship, and another of said controlling means actingto counteract the action of said first mentioned one of said controllingmeans and to restore said relationship, the second of said controllingmeans being rendered operative with certainty each time that a carrierbeing delivered passes a part of said last mentioned controlling means,said part having pro visions to insure against improper actuation ofsaid second controlling means resulting from closely following carriers.

5. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality ofstations, power means to propel carriers along said way, a plurality ofelements which normally occupy a determined relationship with respect toeach other, said elements co-acting to control the expenditure of powerby said power means, relatively widely spaced apart controlling meansfor each of said elements, one of said controlling means normallyacting, each time it is rendered operative, to displace one of saidelements one step for each carrier despatched and to thereby destroysaid normal relationship, and another of said controlling means actingto counteract the action of said first mentioned one of said controllingmeans and to restore said relationship, the second of said controllingmeans being rendered operative each time that a carrier being deliveredpasses a part of said last mentioned controlling means, said part havingprovisions to insure against improper actuation of said secondcontroling means resulting from closely following carriers.

6. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality ofstations, power apparatus to propel carriers along said way, a pin alityof independently movable rotatably mounted elements which normallyoccupy a determined relationship with respect to each other, saidelements coacting to control the expenditure of power by said powerapparatus, and C011t1'0lling means "for each of said elements, one ofsaid means normally acting each time it is reudered operative, todisplace one of said elements normally farther and farther from saidrelationship, another of said means acting, each time it is renderedoperative, to move a second of said elements so as to tend to catch upwith the first, whereby to ultimately reestablish said relationship,said first mentioned controlling means being normally actuated once foreach carrier despatched and said second mentioned controlling meansbeing normally actuated once as each of the so despatched carrierspasses a determined point in said way.

7. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong plurality ofstations, power means to propel carriers along said way, mechanism tocontrol the expenditure of power by said power means, means including acontrol device at one of said stations whereby as each carrier isdespatched from such station, a part of said mechanism will becorrespondingly set to cause said power means to expend power to drivesaid carrier along said way, and auxiliary means including a contactdevice at a point in said way, relatively adjacent another one of saidstations and one at which said carrier is to be delivered, forelectrically setting a part or said mechanism to counteract the effectoi the action of said first device, each of the eases? respectiveactions of said devices upon said mechanism being cumulative and eachsingle action of one of said devices normally oil'- setting a singleaction of the other of said device,

S. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality ofstations, power'means to propel carri rs along said way, mechanism tocontrol the expenditure of power by said power means, means actuated byeach successive carrier despatched from a station to cumulatively set apart of said mechanism to cause said power means to expend power todrive carriers along said way, and means, including an electric circuitcontrolled by the so despatched carriers after they have traversed apart at least oi said way, for cumulatively setting a part of saidmechanism to counteract the cumulative setting aforesaid, whereby torestore the parts of said mechanism to their neutral positions withrespect to each other substantially as soon as said way is clear of allcarriers.

9. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality ofstations, power means to propel carriers along said way, mechanism tocontrol the expenditure of power by said power means, said mechanismcomprising two rotatable elements both of which normally rotate in thesame direction when actuated, means at one of said stations forcontrolling one of said elements, and means substantially at another ofsaid stations for controlling the other of said elements, each of saidelements controlling means being adapted to cause the advance of thecorresponding element one step for each actuation of such correspondingcontrolling means.

10. In a carrier despatch system, a plurality of contacts, a way havingtherealong a plurality of contact making parts each of which controls aset oi said contacts, power means to propel carriers along said way,mechanism to control said power means, and electrical connectionsbetween said contacts and said mechanism, for controlling said mechanismfrom said parts, the said contact making parts which are actuallyengaged simultaneously by a single car rier at a determined point alongsaid way being at least two in number and the contacts controlled bysaid parts being all in series with each other.

11. In a carrier despatch system, a plurality of contacts, a way havingtherealong a plurality of contact making parts each of which controls aset of said contacts, power means to propel carriers along said way,mechanism to control said power means, and electrical connectionsbetween said contacts and said mechanism for controlling said mechanismfrom said parts, the said contact making parts which are actually angaged simultaneously by a single carrier at a determined point alongsaid way being three in number and the contacts controlled by said partsbeing all in series with each other.

12. In a pneumatic despatch system, a plurality of contacts, a carrier,a transmission tube having at a determined point therein a plurality ofcontact making parts each of which parts controls a set of saidcontacts, a mechanism controlled by the passage of said carrier pastsaid determined point, and electrical connections between said sets ofcontacts and said mechanism, said carrier having spaced apart enlargedportions adapted to simultaneously operatively engage said plurality ofcontact making parts only when said carrier is located at saiddetermined point.

13. In a pneumatic despatch system, a plurality of contacts, a carrier,a transmission tube having at a determined point therein a plurality ofcontact making parts each of which parts controls a set of saidcontacts, a power control mechanism for said system controlled by thepassage of said carrier past said determined point, and

electrical connections between said sets of contacts and said mechanism,said carrier having spaced apart enlarged portions adapted tosimultaneously operatively ensaid plurality of contact making parts onlywhen said carrier is looted at said determined point.

.l-fl in a device of the class described, in combination, a carrierhaving a head at each end thereof of greater diameter tian the body ofsaid carrier, a conduit through. wiich said carrier travels and aplurality of co-acting contact making parts one of which is adapted tobe operatively disposed when in engagement with the body oi said carrierand two othe of which are adapted to be simultan ously operativelydisposed by the heads of said carrier, a mechanism controlled by thepassage of said carrier past a determined point in said conduit, andelectrical connections between said parts and. said mechanism.

15. In a device of the class described, in combination, a transmissiontube, a plurality of carriers adapted to closely follow each oth rthrough said tube, said carriers having portions thereof of relativelydifferent sizes, a plurality of contact parts disposed to be operativelyengaged by different portions of each of said carriers as it passes saidparts, and a mechanism electri cally controlled by said parts only whena determined actuation of a determined plurality of said parts has beeneffected by a single passing carrier, said actuation of said pluralityof parts by a plurality of said carriers being normally impossible.

1%, ln pneumatic do patch tube apparw tus, a transmission conduit havingtherealong a plurality of statlons, means to establish a. carrierpropelllng current of air through said conduit, means including a rotarystep-by-step acting part, actuated substantially upon the despatch of acarrier, for rendering said first mentioned means operative to establishsaid current of air to propel a carrier from one of said stations towardanother, said step-by-step acting part being advanced rotarily one stepfor each carrier despatched through said conduit, and co-acting means todisestablish said carrier propelling current of air substantially assoon as said conduit is clear of all despatched carriers and normallyonly when said conduit is thus clear.

17. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduitconnecting a plurality of stations, means to establish a carrierpropelling current of air through said conduit of sufficient force andduration to positively insure the proper transmission 01": a pluality ofsuccessive carriers simultaneously en route through said conduit, past adetermined point therein, coaeting means to disestablish said carrierpropelling current of air only when said conduit, at least up to saidpoint, is free from carriers in course of transit, said co acting meansbeing independent of time running from the despatch of said carriers andbeing further independent of the pressure of said air current, andmeans, also independent of said time and pressure, for actuating saidco-acting means when said conduit is thus tree of said carriers.

18. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit havingthere along a plurality of stations, means to establish a carrierpropellin current of air through said conduit of sudicient force andduration to positively insure the proper transmission of a plurality or"successive carriers simultaneously en route through said conduit, past adetermined point therein, and electrically controlled co-acting means tothereafter disestablish said carrier propelling current of air only whensaid conduit, at least up to said point, is free from carriers in courseof transit, said co-acting means beingfree from time elementinstrumentalities and being adapted to operate immediately upon thepassage of the last carrier in said conduit past said determined point,and contact making means, a part of which is located at said point, forelectrically actuating said co-acting means when said conduit isthusfree of said carriers.

19. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit havingtherealong a plurality of stations, means, including a rotarystep-by-step acting part, to establish a carrier propelling current ofair through said conduit, co-acting means, also including a rotary part,to thereafter disestablish said carrier propelling current of air onlywhen said conduit is free .irom carriers in course of transit andrequiring such air current to propel them, and means, controlled bycarriers in course of delivery, for causing actuation of said lastmentioned rotary part.

20. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit havingtherealong a plurality of stations, carrier controlled means toestablish a carrier propel ling current of air through said conduit,co-acting carrier controlled means, including a rotary element, whichdirectly co-acts with a part of the carrier controlled means firstaforesaid, to disestablish said carrier propelling current of air onlywhen said conduit is free from carriers in course of ransit andrequiring such air current to propel them, said co-acting means beingfree from time element instrumentalities and being adapted to operateimmediately upon the passage of the last carrier in said conduit past adetermined point in the normal path of travel of said carrier, and meansto actuate said co-acting means upon the passage of said last carrierpast said point.

21. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality ofstations, power means to propel carriers along said way, mechanism tocontrol the expenditure of power by said pow means, means actuated byeach successive carrier despatched from a station to cumulatively set apart of said mechanism to cause said power means to expend power todrive carriers along said way, and means, including an electric circuitcontrolled by the so despatched carriers after they have traversed apart at least of said way, for ciunulativeiy setting a part of saidmechanism to counteract the cumulative setting aforesaid, whereby torestore the parts of said mechanism to their neutral positions withrespect to each other substantially as soon as said way is clear of allcarriers, said last mentioned means including contact-controllingprovisions for said circuit to insure each passing carriers individualcontrol of said circuit.

22. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit havingtherealong a plurality of stations, means to establish a carrierpropelling current of air through said conduit, step-by-step actingnieans, actuated substantially upon the despatch of a carrier, forrendering said first mentioned means operative to establish said currentof air to propel a carrier from one of said stations toward another,said stepby-step acting means being advanced one step for each carrierdespatched through said conduit, and co-acting means to operateindependently of said air current to disestablish said carrierpropelling current of air substantially as soon as said conduit is clearof all despatched carriers and normally only when said conduit is thusclear.

23. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit havingtherealong a plurality of stations, means to establish a carrierpropelling current of air through said conduit, means, including arotary step-by-step acting part, actuated substantially upon thedespateh of a carrier, for rendering said first mentioned meansoperative to establish said current of air to propel a carrier from oneof said stations toward another, said step-by-step act ing means beingadvanced one step for each carrier despatched through said conduit, andco-aeting means, directly controlled by actual physical contact of apart of the same with passing carriers, to disestablish with certaintysaid carrier propelling current of air substantially as soon as saidconduit is clear of all despatched carriers and normally only when saidconduit is thus clear.

2a. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit havingtherealong a plurality of stations, means, including a rotarystep-by-step acting part, to es tablish a carrier propelling current ofair through said conduit, and co-aeting means, controlled directly bycarriers in course of delivery and by said carriers alone, to thereafterdisestablish said carrier propelling current of air when said conduit isfree from carriers in course of transit, said coacting means including arotary step-bystep acting part to co-act with the part aforesaid.

25. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit havingtherealong a plurality of stations, means including a rotarystep-by-step acting part to establish a carrier propelling current ofair through said conduit, co-acting means to thereafter disestablishsaid carrier propelling current of air when said conduit is free fromcarriers in course of transit and actuating means for operating saideo-acting means strictly in accordance with the passage of carriers pastsaid actuating means irrespective of the propinquity of said can riersto each other.

26. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality ofstations, power means to propel carriers along said way, mechanism tocontrol the expenditure of power by said power means, means actuated byeach successive carrier despatched from a station to cumulatively set apart of said mechanism to cause said power means to expend power todrive carriers along said way, and means, including an impulsetransmitting system controlled by the so despatched carriers after theyhave traversed a part at least of said Way, for cumulatively setting apart of said mechanismto counteract the cumulative setting aforesaid,whereby to restore the parts of said mechanism to their neutralpositions with respect to each other as soon as said way is clear of allcarriers requiring power from said power means to propel them, said lastmentioned means including provisions to positively insure each passingcarriers individual control of said impulsetransmitting system.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES P. HIDDEN. Witnesses N. L. Dominion, H. E. MORRILL.

women of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of latenta, Washington, I). G.

